Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine both belong to the quinolone family and share similar clinical indications and side effects, including retinal toxicity. Chloroquine-induced retinal toxicity was first described in 1959 and the retinal toxic effects of hydroxychloroquine were later described in 1967 3, 4. One of the most serious side effects is a toxicity in the eye generally with chronic use. People taking 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine or less per day generally have a negligible risk of macular toxicity, whereas the risk begins to go up when a person takes the medication over 5 years or has a cumulative dose of more than 1000 grams. The daily safe maximum dose for eye toxicity can be computed. Hydroxychloroquine Plaquenil is considered a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug DMARD. It can decrease the pain and swelling of arthritis. It may prevent joint damage and reduce the risk of long-term disability. Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of medications that was first used to prevent and treat malaria.

Taking hydroxychloroquine long-term or at high doses may cause irreversible damage to the retina of your eye. Hydroxychloroquine is also an antirheumatic medicine and is used to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus.

As a precaution, patients treated with Plaquenil are advised to get a baseline eye exam prior to starting the drug and then annually thereafter. This information provided by Neil I. Stahl, MD & Tongalp H. Tezel, MD was first printed in the The Moisture Seeker, SSF's patient newsletter for members.

The Risk of Retinal Toxicity with Plaquenil.

Hydroxychloroquine Plaquenil.

Plaquenil Risk Calculators.

PLAQUENIL tablets are white, to off-white, film coated tablets imprinted “PLAQUENIL” on one face in black ink. Each tablet contains 200 mg hydroxychloroquine sulfate equivalent to 155 mg base. Bottles of 100 tablets NDC 59212-562-10. Do not crush or divide PLAQUENIL film-coated tablets see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION. Plaquenil-induced toxicity usually will not occur before five years of taking the drug. “Eye damage due to Plaquenil is not common,” he says. “Rarely will anybody who has good vision and minimal symptoms develop loss of central vision or ability to read if annual screening is done and visual are symptoms reported as soon as they occur so. Beyond Plaquenil Other Drugs, Other Problems. If you’re looking for a comprehensive assessment of drug reactions that relate to the eye, Dr. Fraunfelder and his father, Frederick T. “Fritz” Fraunfelder, MD, along with Wiley A. Chambers, MD, literally wrote the book. 3 “So many drugs can cause ocular side effects that if you’re trying to make a point about which drugs to watch out.

Chloroquine is the generic form of the brand-name prescription medicine Aralen, which is used to prevent and treat malaria — a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite — and to treat amebiasis, an infection of the intestines caused by a parasite. This medicine is also sometimes given off-label to help the following conditions: Also, let your doctor know if you drink large amounts of alcohol before starting on this medicine.

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Avloclor 250mg Chloroquine Tablets Prevent Malaria - Manor Pharmacy Avloclor Chloroquine 250mg tablets are licenced for the prevention of malaria. Avloclor Chloroquine is a pharmacy medicine that can be supplied without a prescription. Unfortunately due to widespread resistance, this product is becoming less useful. This antimalarial medication is NOT suitable for use in the following areas

: September 14, 2016 Chief complaint: Whirling and flashing lights A 57-year-old female presented to the Ophthalmology clinic at UIHC complaining bilateral central photopsias for the past two years. She suffered from Sjogren syndrome and inflammatory arthritis and was currently treated with prednisone and methotrexate.

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Quick Reference Screening for Chloroquine. Sep 23, 2015 Dr. Corte provides a quick reference guide based on the AAO's updated screening guidelines for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine Plaquenil retinopathy. As optometrists, it is important that we are aware of the possible ocular complications that can occur from the use of high risk medications.